Q.  Can parents legally buy a drink for their own under 18 child in a restaurant? Offer a glass of wine at home? And what about a child who is 18, but not 21 yet?
A restaurant cannot serve anyone under the age of 21. A parent may serve a glass of wine to their own children only while at home. They cannot serve anyone under the age of 21 while in their home. They are criminally and civilly responsible.

Q.  If a parent suspects that their teen is drinking and driving, can they ask the police to pull him/her over and administer a sobriety test?  If the test is positive, can the consequences be modified to avoid going to court, as I understand it is very costly for the parents?

A person can be placed on a breathalyzer at the police department only after there was probable cause to make a motor vehicle stop (a violation) and after a field sobriety test, a field investigation and an interview with the person who was arrested for DWI. To be placed on the Breathalyzer, the person has to be in police custody i.e. under arrest.

A parent can tell if their child has been drinking and driving as their breath (a slight hint is enough), body odor, motor skills, speech, and appearance are all signs that you will be able to notice.

I recommend that the issue not be discussed when observed but at a time when all minds are clear.  There will be less chance for a difficult confrontation.

Also, check the motor vehicle department home page about what a parent can do with respect to an underage person’s driver’s license.

Remind your teen: “driving a motor vehicle in Connecticut is a privilege not a right.”

If you would like to reeive Detective Carl’s e-watch emails, just look under Yahoo Groups, Weston eWatch.

ADAP YLC greet WHS Students during Red Ribbon Week 2010

We need you ASAP!  ADAP has been serving Weston since 1971.

ADAP also needs a co-chair for the Evergreen dance which will be held December 4^th !  We are also looking for chaperones the night of the dance.

Without enough parents to help, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sponsor the dances.

Please email today if you’d like to help: adapinc@yahoo.com

Celeste McGeehan presenting the ADAP Community Service Award to Mark Berkowitz, athletic director of Weston High School

“Last week the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) of Weston presented its ADAP Community Service Award as part of its Red Ribbon Week activities. In a presentation at Weston Town Center, the award was given to Mark Berkowitz, athletic director at Weston High School…” [Read the rest at www.acorn-online.com]